Abdominal supporter



1.629067 May 1927' w. T. BUCKNER ABDOMi- NAL SUPPORTER Filed March e, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 anbentoa W7. Buckner May 17, 1927.

w. T. BVUCKNER ABDOMINAL SUPPORTBR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1926 M a M 0 o W .40

Patented May 17, 1927.

i UNITED STATESPATENT' oF F1cE-.,; j

WILLIAM T. BUCKNER, OF SHELBYVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR 0E ONE-HALF TO AGNES FREDERICK GUTHEIE, OF 'SHELIBYVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ABDOMINAL surronrnn,

Application filed March a, 1926. Serial at. 92,767.

This invention relates to; surgical appliances including a body belt and pads adjustably and interchangeably applied to the belt and designed for the treatment of visceroptosis, gastroptosis, nephroptosis, or in any and all conditions which give rise to an abdominal circulatory interference, as in orthost-atic albuminuria, splanchuric dyspepsia, and intestinal stasis. Also to be used when there is a weakening of the abdominal walls following various operations, or an atonic condition of the walls resulting from frequent overdistension, as occurs in frequent pregnancies, ascites, etc. And also to be applied in all cases of hernia, umbilical, inguinal or direct.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a fullunderstanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which,

Figure 1 is a front View of a surgical appliance embodying the invention, showing the same applied,

Figure 2 is a similar view as seen from the rear,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the appliance, on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure a is a detail perspective view of the umbilical pad, as seen from the rear, the cap of the air valve being detached,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 1, showing the umbilical pad replaced by a hernia pad,

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of a back pad as seen from the rear, the cap of the air valve being detached,

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 2,

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of a hernia pad, as seen from the rear,

Figure 10 is an'enlarged sectional view of the hernia pad on the line 1010 of Fig ure 9, and

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of a laparotomy pad, as seen from the rear.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The body belt for receiving and supporting the various pads according to the special adjustment and adaptation of the appliance, comprises similar side springs 1 and front connection 2 which is of peculiar formation to admit of adjustment and application thereto of a variety ofpads, so that the appliance may be readily adapted to any particular case to admitof a 'entle, but positive pressure being applied at the proper point. The side springs 1 may be of any preferred construction and are of usual U- form to fit about the hip of the torso.' A pad 8 is fitted to the rear or back end of each of the side springs 1. The back pad may be of any outline, and is usually of circular formation, as indicated most clearly in Figures 2 and 7. The umbilical pad 4 is elongated and tapers from top to bottom, as indicated most clearly in Figures 1 and 4, so as to conform to the abdominal region of the torso. The hernia pad 5 is elongated and may be of any usual outline. The laparotomy pad 6 illustrated in Figure 11 is oblong and maybe of any outline, according to the specific use for which the same is designed. i

The front connection 2 consists of a plate of elongated form having opposite end portions tapered to make aneat connection with the front ends of the side springs l to which the plate is attached by any suitable fastening means, such as screws 7 At a medial point, the connection 2 is provided with a plurality of openings 8 disposed in vertical relation to allow of the umbilical pad 4 being adjusted vertically to the required position to admit of the pressure beture of pneumatic articles.

llldiJlC articles '1 each consisting'ota back 10, and a front 11. These parts may be united at their outer edges in any preferred way and may consist of soft-rubber orc;other suitable ma-' terial generally employed in the manui' o An air in ve 12 is fitted to the back 10 and may beol' any construction generally provided for pneu he contour and size 01 the pads will depend-"uponfthe' particular use for which thepads'are "des'ignedj Each of the pads includes a retaining lip 13 which may beotany width and Which preferably eonsistsof soft rubber united at its outer edge tothe marginal edgeo't' the pad and adapted to engage over a base plate 1' which conforms to the outline and, size of the pad soas to reinforce and maintaiiii the predeter min'ed' shapeoi'the pad. The base-plate 14: preferably consistsof metal and is confined betwe'en'the back 10 of the pad and the retaining lip 13. In forming the retaining lip 13""a piece of sheet rubber of the size and shape of the pad is'united at its outer or marginal edge thereto and the intermediate portion is cut away, as shown most clearly in F iguresd, '7, 9 and 11 to form an opening of sutlieientsize to" admit of the part 13" being stretched over the base plate 14-; thereby confining"said plate between the back 10 and-the retainer 13. A collar 15 projects outwardly hem the base plate let in line with an opening formed therein to receive the air Valve 12. This collar 15 is externally threaded to receive a cap 16 which proteets'the projecting end of the air valve 12. The collar 15 may form a part of the base plate or may be separate therefrom and secured theretoin any determinate way.

The cap 16 may be plain, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 10', or the cap 16 depicted in Figures 7 and 8 may be provided with a headed stud 17'which is utilized as fastening means for a' rear connection 18 for coupling or joining the rear ends of the side springs 1. sists of a thong or short strap which is connected at one end to one of the side springs 1 and which has its opposite end portion providedwith a plurality of openings 19 to a djustably engage the rear end of the other side spring 1, thereby adjustably connecting the rear ends of the side springs.

When the appliance is adapted for use as an abdominal supporter the umbilical pad 1 is attached to the front connection 2 by passing, the collar 15 through one or" the The rear connection 18 con openings 8 and applying the cap 16 to the projecting end so that the plate 2 is connned between the base-plate 1 1 of the pad and the cap 16. it is observed that the cap 16 serves protective means for the air valve 12 and as a nut to secure the pad to the part 2. The vertical row'oi? openings 8 admits ot' the umbilical pad being adjusteu vertically, as required. r W hen the appliance isadapted forihernia or laparotomy, the; umbilical pad 4: is omitted and the desired pad 5 or 6, is attached to the front connection 2 of the body belt in the required adjusted position, the cdllarldbeiiig passed through one or the other of the slots 9 and the projecting end receiving the cap '16, whereby the" pad 'is made 'fast 'to the front connect-ion (it the body belt in therequired adjusted position, it 'is" noted that the'slots 9 admit of ready adjustment of theselected' p'a'd, 'aceording to the nature of the trouble to'reeeive treat meat." The backpads 3; aresecuredrouie rear ends of the side springsl'by m'eans of the collar 15 and cap 16 as indicated most" clearly in Figure 8, and the rear'connec tion 18 is applied to the headed 'studfli,"

thereby tion.

The pneumatic pad insures a gentle but, positive pressure and conforms readily to the surface so as to equalize and distribute the pressure which is advantageous. It'is, further observed that after the appliance securin the a liance when in osihas been placed in position andinade secureby'the rear connectionit is possible to vary. the pressure by supplying more air to the pad or letting air escape therefrom. In

the case of the umbilical"padithe pressure may be increased or diminish-cries found most advantageous by supplying air to or withdrawing air from the pad. This may be readily eii'ected by removingthe cap 16 and the usual cap of the air valye in a manner readily understood by one accustomed to toe handlingoif pneumaticarticles;

Having thus' described' the invention, I claim: V

1. A pneumatic pad for a surgical ap; pliance, the same comprising a front and an air valve applied to the back, a base plate coextensive with the pad and secured at its outer edge thereto and provided with an opening to accommodate the said air valve, a collar projecting from the base plate in line with the opening therein and a cap threaded to said collar and serving as protective means for the air valve and as fasture In testimony whereof I aifix my signa- WILLIAM T. BUCKNER. [14.8.] 

